Referees Enforce the Rules

The letter (below) is from the Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association highlighting a few rules that referees have often given leeway with but will no longer be doing so.  All referees have been been instructed to call it by the book and no longer give any leeway in these situations.

It is posted here to share with all Coaches, Parents and anyone else who may have some interest in the way we are going to try and enforce these rules.  Thanks.

Chris Canuel
Referee In Chief,  Alberni Valley Minor Hockey Association

In the past we have always instructed to use the Rule book as a guide and to apply it when necessary. We have encouraged the officials to communicate with the coaches (instead of through the captains or alternates) directly as it can be very effective at keeping cooler heads. Some coaches have abused that by having the officials over multiple times in a game thus slowing it down. We then instructed the officials to go only twice to a bench (when asked) to communicate with a coach but always bring a linesman with them.  This was contradictory to the rule book.

The rule book (2.4a) says all communication will be done through the Captain or Alternate when they are on the ice. It also says the Referee may allow the privilege of this conversation, which means he does not have to talk.

Based on recent events where this approach was considered unsubstantiated because no penalty was called we are now instructing all officials to call the game by the book, with special focus on the bench penalties from Team officials. The rule book clearly states that there are penalties for verbal abuse of officials and penalties pertaining to intimidation acts. It has also been apparent that each person’s opinion of what is verbal abuse is different. Because each person thinks this, we will make it simple. There will be NO communication from the bench directed towards any official. There will be no intimidating signals (9.2) come from the bench (hand gestures, no clapping, no throwing arms up in the air). The penalty for any such action will be a Bench Minor on the 1^st occasion and a Game Misconduct on the 2^nd. The rule book also states that an official does not have to assess a Bench minor before the Game misconduct. Please note that based on discrimination (9.2f) and all matters that deal with racial slurs, intimidation and all speak out related topics a Gross Misconduct can also be assessed. FYI a Gross Misconduct is an automatic 3 game suspension in BC Hockey.

Because the officials will follow the rule book to the letter and to the best of their ability there are 3 situations where the officials will communicate with the bench. The 1^st is the fair play initiative. Each official will shake hands with each team official on the bench prior to the start of the game. Any refusal from any team official will be assessed 1 of the 3 following penalties (bench Minor, Game Misconduct or Gross Misconduct). Any official not doing the hand shake will be reported to the RCM and a 14 day suspension may be imposed. The 2nd communication (2.5g) between the bench will be with signals during the line change procedure. The referee will look at the visitor’s bench to allow a line change. Once 5 seconds are up OR the maximum numbers of players are allowed on the ice, the referee will raise his/her hand signaling the line change for the visiting team is complete. The referee will then look to the home bench and allow the home team 5 seconds or sooner (if they have put out the maximum number of players already) to change their players. Once this has happened the referee will lower his/her hand and the fast face-off rule will come into play.  The coach may choose (but does not have too) to give the referee a nod of the head or put 1 hand up (lower than the shoulder) to signal that he is not changing players. The 3^rd communication is if any team tries to make a late player change and the referee has to send the players back to the bench the referee is directed to give a coach 1 warning and any subsequent late changes will be automatic Bench minors. Please note that any warning given to any team official constitutes the 1 warning. It became apparent that some coaches feel each of them is allowed their own warning. The onus is on any team official to relay this warning to all other team official’s.

In the past we have allowed the team official’s to ask about a rule because they do not know the rule. There are a multitude of rules and almost every rule has a case book situation to explain the rule. We have always offered a rule question or interpretation because there are a lot of rules in the rule book. Of course this courtesy is no longer. If you want to know the rule we encourage all team officials to read the rule book and casebook.

Below we have highlighted some common misconceptions on rules.

Body Contact is ALLOWED. Body Checking is NOT

You can only check a player that has the puck.

You cannot poke or jab at the goalie at ANY time regardless if the whistle is gone or not. If the puck is loose you can take the puck provided there has been no jabbing or poking of the goaltender.

Once the whistle has been blown, all players will cease doing anything to the other team. This includes the ever growing excuse, “I was protecting my goaltender”.

3 people control a hockey game (1 referee and 2 head coaches). If you feel 1 is not doing their part then the other 2 must step up and carry the extra weight. If you truly feel the referee has lost control then you must do your part to control your players. If you feel the referee has lost control and the other coach is not doing his part to control the players then add that to your game report that you have to file after every game.

Remember. Players get slashed, tripped, illegally checked and injured all BEFORE the referee blows their whistle.

This directive is harsh and one that will put us back 30 years and one that we are not happy to send. We are hoping that after we all see the reality of the rulebook working to the letter people will realize that the system we have been trying to invoke is far better.

Please take special attention to the following rules:

Rule 5.1 (b), (d)

Rule 2.4 (a), (c), (f) also casebook situation 3.

Rule 10.14 (a), (e) Note: (e) is very important to know.

Rule 9.2 (a), (f), (i). Read the entire rule (if you want) but (a), (f) &(I) are very important to know. Also special attention should go to situation 6 from the casebook. It says Linesman cannot physically call a bench minor or misconduct but must report the infraction to the referee at the next stoppage. At that time the referee will call the penalty that the linesman has reported. We mention this because a lot of people do not know Linesman can call bench penalties.

Also READ page 13. In Bold Letters it is under Supplementary Discipline.

 Please note we have never been a fan of calling a game by the rule book as we have always used the rule book as a guideline. Yes this is the best way! The rule book is very harsh and can grind a game to a standstill. However when push comes to shove and coaches and lawyers and other participants start demanding that correct procedures and calls were not made the only thing we have to fall back on is the hard core rule. Unfortunately the unwritten rules of game flow and communication that all participants have worked over the years to establish have all been wiped out by a few who do not understand the leeway allowed to them. We do apologize to all the good people out there who surely will suffer because of a few.

We know this is going to be difficult and we hope this madness will end. It is up to each you to decide on how to handle it and who to take your frustration out on. Please do not take it out on the officials. They are only doing the best that they can and no one is perfect so mistakes will be made, calls will be missed, kids will have injuries and goals may or may not be counted. These are unfortunately part of the game. That is why it is called amateur hockey.

Please note that all rules quoted are from the CHA rulebook which can be found online. Also note that associations can add to the rule book but never take away. The pecking order is as follows:

CHA Rulebook, BC Hockey Constitution which includes special rules, VIAHA Handbook, Nanaimo Minor Hockey special rules.

Thank you and we are deeply sorry we have been forced to go down this road.

Officials and coaches can still have communication prior to opening face-off. This allows the coaches and officials to get the game sheet correctly done.

R.F. Hodgson                                                                                                Hank Aarsen

Referee in Chief                                                                                           Referee Committee Advisor

Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association                                                      Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association

January 28, 2013 | Categories: AVMHA, Coaching Staff, Notices/Bulletins, On Ice Officials-Referees | Comments Off